How to Do a Pap Smear

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A pap smear is a simple, quick, and relatively painless screening test, used to detect cancerous or pre-cancerous cells in the cervix. Getting regular pap screens is essential for the early detection and treatment of cervical cancer. To understand how to prepare for a pap smear and learn more about what the process involves, start with Step 1 below.

Make sure your appointment won't coincide with your period. When scheduling an appointment for a pap smear, try to time it so it doesn't overlap with your next period. Blood from your period can interfere with the results of the pap smear, making it less accurate.[1]

However, if you experience any unexpected bleeding or spotting right before the appointment, there is no need to cancel the appointment.

The gynecologist will assess the amount of blood and determine whether the pap smear is worth doing or if you will need to reschedule for another day.

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Avoid doing anything that will interfere with the results of the pap smear. In the 24 to 48 hours before the pap smear, it is important to avoid engaging in any activities or putting anything on or around the vagina that could interfere with the test results. Avoid the following:[2]

Remember to empty your bladder before you go to your appointment. The pap smear will involve having an instrument inserted into your vagina and possibly having the doctor press down on your lower abdomen. Therefore it is a good idea to avoid drinking too much fluid before the appointment and to make sure that you empty your bladder.[4]

Prepare for a certain amount of discomfort during the procedure.[10] As the speculum expands and the samples are taken from the cervix, some women will experience a certain level of discomfort, similar to menstrual cramps. Other women will experience no discomfort at all.

Following the procedure, you may experience slight bleeding or spotting, but this is completely normal and will quickly subside.

Watch the doctor place the cell samples onto a glass slide. After the doctor collects the cell samples from the walls of the cervix, he/she will place the samples onto a glass slide, which is then placed inside a protective blue case.

This entire procedure only takes three to five minutes. Once the doctor has finished collecting the samples, they will remove the speculum and you will be able to take your feet out of the stirrups and begin to get dressed.

The cell samples will be sent to the lab for testing. You will be notified about the results as soon as they are ready.

Learn why the pap smear is necessary. The pap smear is a screening test — this means that a large number of healthy people are tested in order to identify a small number of people with abnormal cells. The samples collected during a pap smear are examined under a microscope to look for pre-malignant (pre-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) cells.[11]

The pap smear is an easy, effective wear to detect early signs of cervical cancer. This is important, as cervical cancer can be completely cured with a simple treatment to the cervix if it is caught early enough.

Later stages of cervical cancer require more involved treatment, such as hysterectomy and radiotherapy.[12] Although there has been news of promising research into a vaccine against HPV, the main approach to this type of cancer is early diagnosis and treatment.

Understand who needs to receive a pap smear. Pap smears are recommended for every woman, beginning at the age of 21. If the results of your first pap screen are normal and HPV is negative, you are considered low risk and you will only need to return for a pap smear once every 3 years.[13]

Women over the age of 40 are most at risk for developing cervical cancer, so if your are above 40 and you have never had a pap screen, it is highly recommended that you make an appointment as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that the pap smear is not used to detect other forms of cancer, such as cancer of the ovaries or uterus. Therefore, you will still need to schedule an annual gynecology exam to evaluate the health of the vagina, cervix, uterus, ovaries and pelvis.

The only women who do not need to undergo regular pap smears are those who have no prior history of cervical dysplasia and have had a hysterectomy with removal of the cervix.[14]

Be aware of what abnormal results could mean for your health. When a pap smear produces abnormal results, further testing or follow-up is needed. The next step depends on the precise results of the pap smear, your previous history of pap smears, and any risk factors you may have for cervical cancer.

If the cells are identified as being cancerous or pre-cancerous, your doctor will decide on the best course of treatment. If the condition is caught early enough, a simple course of HPV immunization drugs will be enough to eliminate the cancerous cells. The most commonly prescribed medication is called Gardasil.[15]

It the cancer is more advanced, more extreme treatments such as radiotherapy or a hysterectomy may be required.

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Community Q&A

I tried to get a pap smear when I was a virgin, but I couldn't as it was too painful. Why?

AbigailAbernathy

Top Answerer

Virgins have not had sexual intercourse, and therefore are not used to having things inside of their vaginas. Gynecologists say that if you can handle a penis, you can handle the speculum. It was painful for you because you are not used to the amount of stretching involved in the exam. This is fine and totally normal. Your gynecologist should have been more considerate.

Although it is an uncomfortable situation to be in, close your eyes, take deep breaths, and try not to think about it. The pap smear itself is very quick, and you shouldn't feel much pain at all beyond a slight pinching sensation.

The signs and symptoms of cervical cancer can vary, but may include blood spots or light bleeding between or following periods; menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual; bleeding after intercourse, douching, or a pelvic examination; increased vaginal discharge; pain during sexual intercourse; bleeding after menopause; and unexplained, persistent pelvic and/or back pain.

Warnings

The Pap smear test is not 100% accurate. Cervical cancer may be missed in a small number of cases. Most of the time, cervical cancer develops very slowly and follow-up Pap smears should identify changes in time for treatment.

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Together, they cited 15 references. This article has also been viewed 117,950 times.

It might seem intimidating to get a pap smear, but it’s a normal procedure that’s important for your health. When you get to your appointment, be prepared to undress from the waist down. Lie on the examination and place your feet in the stirrups. When the doctor starts his examination, take a deep breath and try to relax. The exam will only take a few moments, during which time you may experience slight discomfort, or you might not feel much at all.